Houston Texans Team With YMCA To Open Facility

HOUSTON -- The Houston Texans and Greater Houston YMCA announced a historic partnership to open a new facility in the Palm Center community of the Third Ward, KPRC Local 2 reported Tuesday.

The Houston Texans YMCA will be the first YMCA in the country to be named after a professional sports team.

"The YMCA is such a wonderful organization and I think it's such a positive influence on any family or any young person that we want to make sure that experience is available to everyone," Houston Texans Founder and CEO Bob McNair said.

The future site of the Houston Texans YMCA will be located at the corner of Griggs Road and Martin Luther King Blvd.

The new facility will replace the old South Central YMCA that currently sits on the campus of Texas Southern University in the 3500 block of Wheeler.

"What we're anticipating is that we'll be able to serve a lot of people that have been underserved in the past," South Central YMCA Board Chairman Alan Bergeron said.

In 1955, Quentin Mease was instrumental in building the original South Central YMCA and became its first director. Under his leadership, the South Central YMCA became a vital center for professional African-Americans.

"To see that its work will be perpetuated here in this new building that will take place," Mease said. "The support that is shown here today from what I hear from the community is that they're very happy the work will carry on."

The center will offer educational programs, health and wellness, child care, recreational, and youth development -- all much needed services that will help improve the urban, low socioeconomic community.

Third Ward resident Tiniquea Johnson anticipates taking advantage of the YMCA upon its completion in hopes of starting a new chapter in her life.

"If they have GED classes, I would rather go through the GED classes and whatever other programs they have that would help me get my life back on track," Johnson said.

The $10 million dollar construction project will begin later this year and is expected to be completed in 2010.